Entertainment Tips: Etched in Sand
If there’s one thing to learn from this month’s book club pick, it’s that nothing is more important than the close bonds between family and friends. Regina Calcaterra’s memoir, “Etched in Sand,” is an inspiring story that underlines the importance of family, relationships, and home. This month’s entertainment tips will show you that when amongst close friends, book club meetings don’t have to be an extravagant affair! Calcaterra hosts her events so connection and conversation are the focal points. The ideas below will have you and your guests sitting back and enjoying the company, discussion, and your glass of Sutter Home Pinot Grigio in no time.
Keep Your Guest List Close
Instead of inviting anyone and everyone to join your book club, make it more intimate by just including your nearest and dearest friends and family. Make sure everyone knows the meeting is a casual affair, including the dress code – conversations flow better when you’re most comfortable, right?
Promote Discussion
The best book club meetings are filled with engaging discussions, but coming up with thought-provoking questions can be a challenge. Consider taking a few questions from the “Etched in Sand” reading guide, and sprinkling in your own ideas so all your guests have a chance to engage.
Downsize the Décor
Keep your book club meeting simple by skipping the tablecloth, and instead mixing and matching brightly colored placemats on the table. Fresh-cut flowers help add to the ambiance; Calcaterra gets hers from own backyard. By placing vases of freshly cut hydrangeas around her home, she creates an atmosphere of “relaxed living” for her guests as soon as they step inside.
Keep the Meal Low-Key
When planning the main dish, consider something you can prepare without much effort so you’ve got more time to chat with your guests. Calcaterra recommends Mussels on the Grill so you can mingle while cooking, and your clean-up is quick and easy.
Ask your friends to bring side dishes, and make their lives easier by assigning specific recipes. This will take the guesswork out of what they should prepare, and you won’t end up with a whole bunch of salads!
Do you have any additional tips that help you make entertaining a breeze? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
